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Ovahimba women of Kunene region, Namibia

Our Himba Tribe is Of Kunene region in Namibia is a staunch tribe that does not condone or compromise their value of their beliefs and culture.

Himba people called Ovahimba (plural) Omuhimba (singular) are an isolated ethnic people, guarded of external contact who still live in what the world view as “primitive”.

Polygamy: Polygamy is a common and respected culture for the Himba tribe. Ovahimba Girls are also commonly married off at early ages being exposed to conjugal acts at young ages. Visitors of the Kunene region are as well welcomed with sex.

However it is not clear if it married men and women also welcome visitors with sex considering they’re married off early and/ or in polygamous marriages. This tribe is still noted to be a very friendly and welcoming people.

Fashion: Ovahimba adorn their new born babies with beaded necklaces as a cultural practice and for adornment. Ovahimba people create their own clothing and accessories from the resources around them. An Omuhimba woman can be identified by her braided like hair-do / head raps, heavily beaded accessories on the neck, wrist, waist and ankle and full facial makeup like a facial tattoo.

Ovahimba lifestyle- clothing are bare chests and shorts bottoms complicated by their accessories quite alike with many cultural fashion today that are vanishing due to modernization.

Other standard of living: The Kunene region the arid skeleton coast Environment within the northern reaches of the Namib Desert is a place with one of the most extreme harsh environmental conditions. With indigenous culture, knowledge and technology the Himba people have their way of lifestyle in these extremely harsh environmental conditions one being their shower/ bath habits.

Water is scarce in the Kunene region therefore the Ovahimba In order to maintain their body hygiene use some soothing smoke bath daily. A shouldering charcoal is put in a bowl of herbs and then while burning, the smoke is allowed to ascend onto body allowing it to perspire until satisfaction of a full wash.

 Despite the extreme desert weather patterns (harsh environmental conditions), the Himba People are agriculturalists; farmers and livestock breeders. Ovahimba women are family oriented who spend most times gathering firewood, preparing meals, sourcing for fresh water and taking care of little ones and generally their families.

The Himba tribe is a very religious group of people and is among the African tribes that are inclined with African spirituality.

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